System for protecting buildings from fire



(No Model.)

} E. L. PHIPPS. SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING BUILDINGS FROM FIRE. No. 564,534.Patented July 21, 1896.

6 H I I v ay...

WITNESSES Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVARD L. PHIPPS, OF MILFORD, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF'TO WILLIAMH. GIRDLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING BUILDINGS FROM FIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,534, dated July 21,1896.

Application filed August 3 l 89 5.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. PHIPPs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Milford, in the county of Oakland and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systemsfor Protecting Buildings from Fire; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of the invention applied,and is partly diagrammatic. Fig. 2 is a front view of sprinkler, witharm 6 shown thrown around in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a section on linea; to, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view, of section K in supply-pipe. Fig.5 is a view inside said section, flange partly broken. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of grooved plug.

This invention has for its object the provision of simple, efficient,and reliable apparatus for the protection of buildings against fire, andis of that class known as automatic stationary fire-extinguishers.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates awater-pipe which in the application of the invention is designed to besupported just below the ceiling of a factory, warehou se, or otherbuilding to which the invention is applied, or in such position as maybe the most efiective in view of the nature of any particular buildingand the character and location of its contents. A number of these pipesare usually employed, or a single pipe having a number of branches, asthe circumstances may require. Said pipe or pipes are supplied by aconnection with a water-main, whereby a constant pressure is maintainedtherein, or they may be supplied by a pump or pumps in the boiler-room.Disposed along said pipes at suitable intervals are a series ofsprinklers, which consist each of a shell B, having a nipple b, which isSerial No. 558,103. (No model.)

threaded into a tap of the pipe or a coupling thereof, A, a valve-seatc, rotary valve 0, carried by a stem D, which is journaled in the wallsof the shell, and a discharge E, which is directly opposite the nippleb. On one projecting end of the stem D is a head D, around which iscoiled a spring F, one end of which is secured to the shell B, and theother end portion of which has a bearing against an arm 6 of the head D,the stress of this spring being such that if free to act it would holdthe valve 0 in such position that its port 0 would register with thepassage through the nipple b and with the discharge E.

Attached to a lug or projection f of the shell B, by means of aneasily-fusible pin g, is a loop G, to which is connected one end portionof a spring G, to the opposite end portion of which is attached one endportion of a textile cord H, the other end portion of which is attachedto the arm e of the next sprinkler of the series. This arrangement isfollowed throughout the system; that is to say, the arm 6 of thevalve-stem of each of the sprinklers is connected by a spring and cordwith the loop G of the next valve, and this connection exerts a tensionon the said arm E, which holds the valves 0 closed against the stress ofthe springs F. In the discharge E of each sprinkler is placed aperforated and laterally-grooved plug I or other suitable device forcausing the water to spread as it is discharged.

The operation will be readily understood. Whenever from any cause thetemperature surrounding any one of the sprinklers reaches thefusing-point of the pin 9, or whenever flame comes in contact with acord H, the connection which holds the valve closed is at once destroyedand the said valve is at once thrown open by its spring F, causing adischarge of water from the opening E. Each valve will operate in thesame manner as soon as subjected to the same conditions of temperature.The arm 6 is extended, as at e, for the purpose of striking the lug f ofthe valve-shell to form a stop for the valve when it reaches itsfull-opened position.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of means forgiving automatically an alarm whenever the sprinklers are IOO throwninto operation. For this purpose I place in a section K of the pipe averticallydisposed diaphragm L, which cuts off approximately one-halfthe diameter of the pipe. Below this diaphragm is a gate L, arranged toclose the passage thereunder, and which is attached to a shaft orspindle Z, which is journaled in the wall of the said section andprojects therethrough at one end, as indicated at 1'. On this projectingend is a cam-plate M, which is between two contact plates or posts m m,to which are connected, respectively, the terminals of a normally openelectric circuit P. This circuit includes a battery Q and a suitablealarm R, such as a bell. When the sprinkler-valves are all closed, thevalve L hangs vertically in the section K, and the plate on (which ismade of material which is a conductor of electricity) is out of contactwith the posts or plates m m. So soon, 110wever, as one or more of thesprinkler-valves are opened the valve L is raised by the current whichflows through the pipe, and rocks the shaft or spindle Z to bring theplate M into contact with said posts or plates. This completes theelectric circuit, and the alarm, which is suitably located for thepurpose, is sounded.

It is obvious that instead of a normally open circuit I might employ anormally-closed circuit, the plate M being normally in contact with theposts m 'm, and arranged to move away from the same to break the circuitand sound the alarm upon the proper movement of the valve or gate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus of the class described, the.combination with a supply-pipe having a series of normally-closeddischarges, of a vertically disposed diaphragm L located in said pipeand cutting off approximately one-half of the diameter there of, a gateL journaled adjacent to the lower edge of the said diaphragm, andnormally closing the passage thereunder, a cam-plate on the projectingend of the pivot of said gate, and an electric circuit including analarm, said circuit having terminals connected to contact posts orplates located one upon each side of the said cam-plate, substantiallyas specified.

2. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus of the class described, thecombination with a water-supply pipe, of a number of sprinkler devicesconnected thereto, each of said devices comprising a shell having adischargeopening, a rotary valve which controls the said discharge saidvalve having its stem j ournaled in the said shell, and provided on itsprojecting end portion with an arm, a spring coiled around said endportion and having bearings whereby its stress is such as to hold thevalve open, and a combustible cord connected to the said arm at one end,and to a spring at its other end, said spring having a fusibleconnection with the shell of an adjacent sprinklerdevice, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD L. PI-IIPPS. \Vitnesses:

CHARLIE B. ANDREWS, JOHN L. RooL.

